Have 15 Minutes? 21 Ways to Upgrade Your Party, Fast

You know those fun party details you didn't think you had time for? If you have 15 minutes, you can totally tackle a few of these easy upgrades to the food, drink and party vibe.

By: Liz Gray

Show: Lazy Entertainer

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Photo By: Cheyenne Mojica Photography

Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Buff Strickland ©Buff Strickland

Photo By: Brklyn View Photography LLC

Photo By: Cheyenne Mojica Photography

Photo By: ALX Creatives

Photo By: ©iStockphoto.com/AleksandarNakic

Photo By: Brklyn View Photography LLC

The Drinks: Make DIY Glass Charms

To avoid having a pile of glasses (and to keep post-party cleanup to a minimum), encourage guests to label their drinks. This also ensures everyone uses just one glass throughout the entire party. Try using wine charms, or personalize glasses by writing guests' names on drink stirrers.

Make This: Free Printable Drink Flags

From: Katie Meyers

The Drinks: Make Fancy Ice Cubes

You'll need a little lead time (these freeze in about 4 hours) but making dressed-up ice cubes couldn't be easier. Finely chop fruit, herbs or citrus zest, then cover with water and freeze. Add them to a serving pitcher with your drink of choice just before friends arrive.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The Drinks: Fancy Up Your Water

Sure, most of your friends will sip on a beer, wine or cocktails, but don't forget to have something special for your non-drinking buddies, too. An easy solution: Drop frozen fruit into a pitcher of water to cool it down and add flavor and color. Finish with citrus slices or fresh herbs, if you like.

The Drinks: Just Add Ice

Storing your drinks in the fridge or in a plastic cooler is fine, but creating an open ice bucket in clear view of guests helps you avoid the inevitable "Where are the drinks? question. A galvanized tub or even a planter works well for an outdoor event. Inside, you can even use one side of your sink to chill drinks within view of partygoers.

The Drinks: Swap in a Prettier Container

Sometimes box wine or plastic-bottle booze is all your wallet allows. Give low-budget picks a high-end look by transferring them into glass pitchers or decanters. An easy trick? Save clear glass juice or liquor bottles and remove the labels for a chic, no-cost party upgrade.

The Drinks: Make Simple Syrup

Simple syrup is, in a word, simple. To make this sugar syrup, mix equal parts sugar and water, heat over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved, then remove from heat. While it's hot, add flavoring with herbs, citrus zest, vanilla beans, peppers and more. Transfer it to a jar or bottle and add it to your bar area with a printable label. Guests can easily sweeten their drinks with the pre-dissolved syrup, and you'll look like a total pro.

Make This: DIY Infused Syrup

The Drinks: Set Up a Bar Station

Bar carts are adorable and uber-trendy, but we don't all have room for a year-round drink station. Luckily, it's easy to turn a piece of furniture you already have into a one-day bar special. Here's how.

DIY This: How to Set Up a Bar, the Lazy Way

The Food: Grab a Rotisserie Chicken

Chips and salsa are great, but if you're out of time and need to serve something a little more substantial, turn to rotisserie chicken. Grab one from your local market, then shred it up, mix with barbecue sauce and serve on hamburger buns.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The Food: Try Roasted Nuts

Add bowls of roasted nuts (homemade or store-bought) near the bar and a few other places you'd like guests to gather.

Make This: Chili-Lime Roasted Cashews

The Food: Spread Out the Buffet

No matter what type of party you're having, one thing is certain: Guests will congregate around the food and drinks. To spread out the party, create a few food stations with different offerings, like the kitchen counter, the coffee table and on the patio.

From: Katie Meyers

The Desserts: Add a Cupcake Wrapper

Put your own spin on bakery-bought cupcakes with a customized wrapper. To make these, print out our watercolor cupcake wrapper template on basic printer paper, then cut out and secure with clear tape.

Make This: Watercolor Cupcake Wrappers

The Desserts: Make a Doughnut Tower

What's better than a party with doughnuts? A party with a doughnut cake! Stack them in a tower on a dessert stand or plate for a fun presentation. You can copy this look with store-bought cookies, too.

From: Katie Meyers

The Mood: Put on a Playlist

Every good party needs the right playlist. Curating your own takes time, so we've compiled this list of Pandora stations perfect for every occasion.

Grab a bluetooth speaker and get it going before the first guest arrives.

Bookmark This: 10 Perfect Playlists for Your Party

The Decor: Add a Kraft Paper Runner

Grab a roll of kraft paper to create a table runner that you can throw away after the party ends. Fold the ends under the table and secure with painter's tape.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The Decor: Try a Painter's Tape Place Card

Use that same roll of painter's tape to create easy place markers for each guest. Cut the ends in a pennant shape, then add guests' names with a chalk marker.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The Decor: Interactive Party Decor

Take the kraft paper runner one step further by painting it during the party. Paint oversized, abstract flowers on the kraft paper, leaving room for your friends to add their own artwork. (Add a couple of layers underneath to protect your table from paint.)

Leave the water, brushes,and paint on the table. When the guests arrive, tell them to fill in the painting with their own abstract flowers. When it’s time to eat, remove the paint and water and your table will be full of beautifully-painted colorful flowers.

The Decor: Scarf Turned Table Runner

Take a cue from your closet with this scarf table runner. Grab a pretty, patterned scarf that’s made of a lightweight, silk-like fabric. Lay it down the center of your table so the ends drape off the sides. Scrunch the scarf up in the center to give it some body and movement.

The Decor: Washi Tape Wall Message

Use a roll of washi tape to create a party message on the wall. It will peel right off (without leaving residue) when the party ends.

The Decor: Washi Tape Vases

Make even the most simple centerpieces stand out with a little washi tape. Add stripes that coordinate with your party, then swap them out for the next event.

From: Michelle Edgemont

The Decor: Add a Potted Plant

If you have potted plants spread around your home, now's the chance to highlight them. In lieu of a cut bouquet, display potted herbs, succulents or flowers as a centerpiece.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The Decor: One Bouquet, Many Arrangements

Instead of one large vase, create multiple small arrangements with one large bouquet. Place them around the house, from the kitchen to the bathroom sink, to create a welcoming vibe.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Lazy Entertainer

Have 15 Minutes? 21 Ways to Upgrade Your Party, Fast

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Drinks: Make DIY Glass Charms

The Drinks: Make Fancy Ice Cubes

The Drinks: Fancy Up Your Water

The Drinks: Just Add Ice

The Drinks: Swap in a Prettier Container

The Drinks: Make Simple Syrup

The Drinks: Set Up a Bar Station

The Food: Grab a Rotisserie Chicken

The Food: Try Roasted Nuts

The Food: Spread Out the Buffet

The Desserts: Add a Cupcake Wrapper

The Desserts: Make a Doughnut Tower

The Mood: Put on a Playlist

The Decor: Add a Kraft Paper Runner

The Decor: Try a Painter's Tape Place Card

The Decor: Interactive Party Decor

The Decor: Scarf Turned Table Runner

The Decor: Washi Tape Wall Message

The Decor: Washi Tape Vases

The Decor: Add a Potted Plant

The Decor: One Bouquet, Many Arrangements

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